European partnership launches new awards for SSH researchers

Early Career and PhD Researchers working at the crossroads of sustainability and society are invited to apply for a new award, coordinated by Anglia Ruskin University, Fraunhofer ISI and ICS-ULisboa to mark the upcoming launch of a new forum for SSH researchers, policymakers and practitioners: Shared Green Societies.

The award(s) celebrates the critical role of these early career researchers (defined as those not having led research projects above €100,000) in the field of social sciences and humanities (SSH) and their role in shaping Europe’s green transition. 

Too often overlooked, SSH research sits at the heart of bridging policy, practice, and community action and this award aims to highlight and celebrate those contributions.

Applicants can apply under three different themes, each representing a pressing need in sustainability research. The themes are 1) Supporting citizen and/or professional participation, 2) Promoting mutual knowledge flows, and 3) Advocating for inclusive public policies.

Each theme will have one winner announced at a virtual award ceremony on 12 December. These three winners will each receive €500 paid to them personally and the opportunity to visit Brussels (Wednesday 28 January 2026) for the Shared Green Societies Forum launch event (expenses paid).

The Shared Green Societies Forum will bring together SSH researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to bridge research, policy, and practice for sustainability. Officially launching in Brussels in January 2026, the forum has backing from networks representing over 4,000 NGOs and municipalities across Europe.

The deadline for applications is set for 12 November and the call information and application form is available on sharedgreendeal.eu/ssh-awards.

Leading up to the awards, the EU funded project supporting the awards, SHARED GREEN DEAL, is also hosting a series of short online “Coffee talks” each Thursday morning in October sharing SSH insights from 24 social experiments across Europe. Registration is open for all on sharedgreendeal.eu/ssh-webinars.